Show Review: Joy Oladokun brings an intimate, soulful night to The Van Buren
Some shows feel larger than life, but some—like Joy Oladokun’s stop at The Van Buren this week—thrive in their intimacy. Playing to a modest but deeply devoted crowd, Oladokun transformed the space into something far more personal, weaving together humor, vulnerability, and raw storytelling. This was more than just a tour stop—it was a homecoming. […]
Show Review: AMPERS&ONE breathes new life into K-pop with invigorating Arizona performance
A flood of young fans (and one very excited dad) piled into Mesa’s Nile Theater when AMPERS&ONE brought their aptly named My First_ in North America tour to Arizona. The freshly minted K-pop group- made up of Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Mackiah, Kyrell, and Seungmo- turned the iconic theater into a spectacle of energetic dancing […]
Show Review: Connor Price throws an all-ages party on the Family & Friends Tour in Tempe
For concert enthusiasts who are also parents, the opportunities to take the whole family to a show are few and far between — thematic content, onstage antics, and fan behavior are just a few things that can go awry. But multihyphenate Connor Price has created a space where fans of all ages are welcome, and […]
Show Review: Nessa Barrett brings her sultry Aftercare Tour to sold out Phoenix stop
Not many artists elicit a “no camping” warning from the venues they play, but the arrival of Nessa Barrett and Ari Abdul came with an announcement from The Van Buren in Phoenix: Fans cannot be on the property prior to 2:30pm on the day of the show. But even with only a few hours between […]
Show Review: Saint Motel lights up a rainy night in Phoenix
A rare rainy evening in downtown Phoenix couldn’t dampen the excitement at The Van Buren. Saint Motel took the stage to a packed house of fans who braved the weather, and from the first notes, it was clear the crowd’s enthusiasm was through the roof. The unusual drizzle outside only made the cozy venue feel […]
Show Review: Lauren Mayberry performs full debut album at Phoenix’s Crescent Ballroom
Lauren Mayberry really is that girl. The CHVRCHES frontwoman released her debut solo album, Vicious Creature, in December and hit the road earlier this year, stopping at Phoenix’s Crescent Ballroom to play it in full. “It’s everyone’s worst fucking nightmare,” she jokes about her solo project, for the vocalist to strike out on their own. […]
Extra Innings Festival 2025: Day two delivers a grand finale with Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, much more
Just after noon on Saturday, the second and final day of Extra Innings Festival was off and running, welcoming fans back for another sun-soaked day of incredible performances, unforgettable moments and a whole lot of magic under the Arizona sky. With the Home Plate and Right Field Stages buzzing with energy, the second half of […]
Extra Innings Festival 2025: Day one hits a home run in Tempe
Under the golden Arizona sun, Extra Innings Festival returned for its second year, proving once again that it’s more than just an extension of Innings Festival- it’s a major player in the festival scene. While its name nods to spring training season, the real draw isn’t baseball, it’s the stellar lineup, perfect weather and electric […]
Gallery: The Plot in You packs Tempe’s Marquee Theatre on headlining tour
The Arizona metalcore community descended on Tempe’s Marquee Theatre this week to mosh and crowdsurf to their heart’s content for The Plot in You. The hardcore heavyweight group was joined by Holding Absence, Boundaries and Acres for a sweaty, rowdy show. New England metal group Boundaries injected their own unique character into their opening set […]
Show Review: Role Model’s No Place Like Tour kicks off with powerful Phoenix performance
After an incredible run in Europe and Australia, Tucker Pillsbury- known more famously as Role Model- returned stateside to launch the latest leg of his No Place Like Tour at The Van Buren in downtown Phoenix on Monday night. If there were any doubts about how American fans would welcome him home, they were erased […]